Norway 1628 specie daler Dav-3529
The first specimen was lot 1175 in Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection (Copenhagen, September 2024), where it sold for €10,800 (about US$11,969 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Amber Toned and Nice Example of this Elusive Type, First Norwegian Speciedaler, NORWAY. Speciedaler, 1628. Christiania Mint. Christian IV. NGC AU Details--Reverse Scratched. Mintmaster: Anders Pedersen. The Mint in Christiania (present day Oslo) was opened in 1628 and the goldsmith, Anders Pedersen was appointed mintmaster on the 28th of April. This and all the following Specie-denominations struck for Christian IV carry the following bible quote (Proverbs 10:22): BENEDICTIO DOMINI DIVITES FACIT ("The blessing of the Lord gives wealth"), referring to the rich silver finds at Kongsberg. The design rather closely imitates the first Norwegian Taler from 1546 minted at Gimsøy, and this combination of a portrait of the king and the axe-bearing lion became a standard for all future Talers minted at Christiania. This inaugural Speciedaler sports a lovely yet underplayed cabinet toning, and the scratches mentioned do not distract from its beauty. Ex: Countship of Brahesminde Collection (Private Sale - 1922)."
The second specimen was lot 20380 in Ponterio sale 161 (Chicago, August 2011), where it sold for $20,700. The catalog description[2] noted, "DENMARK. Speciedaler, 1628. Christian IV (1588-1648). NGC VF-35." This specie daler marks the resumption of coinage in Norway after it lapsed in the 1540's. It was accompanied by half, quarter and eighth specie dalers (KM 7, 6, 5). It was also struck in 1629.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 25.98 g, 0.969 fine silver, 42 mm diameter, this specimen 25.81 g.
Catalog reference: KM-8; Dav-3529; Hede-1; Sieg-15.1; NMD-27B; Schou-15; Bruun-9308.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio, Jeremy Bostwick and Henrik Holt Christensen, The L. E. Bruun Collection - A Corpus of Scandinavian Monetary History Part I, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
- [2]Ponterio, Rick, et al., Ponterio sale 161: The Chicago ANA Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's-Bowers, LLC, 2011.
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